The mother of a British boy who claims he is living under virtual imprisonment
in the home of his relatives in Qatar has appealed to David Cameron to
redouble his efforts to secure his freedom.

Adam Jones, a 13-year old from Sheffield, has been living with his uncle Fahad al-Mudaki since 2009 when a local court transferred custody from his mother Rebecca to his paternal relatives.

Mrs Jones, 45, told the Daily Telegraph that the prime minister, must do more to gain Adam’s freedom.

“Adam is very distressed,” she said. “He is not allowed to see me except during strictly supervised visits when we are not even supposed to laugh together. When he is at his uncle’s house he is not allowed out on his own and has no access to the things that normal boys have. He is virtually imprisoned."

Mr Cameron’s appeals to the al-Thani family – which runs Qatar – to intervene have so far proved fruitless.

Under the current arrangements, Mrs Jones can only see Adam twice a week. She flies from nearby Bahrain but can end up spending £2,000 a month on travel.

“The family keep threatening to end the visiting rights and I am terrified I will lose them if I miss a single session,” she said. “I can’t do anything else with my life in case I miss these two days. But I wouldn’t miss my time with him for anything.”

Mrs Jones said she wanted Whitehall to redouble its efforts. “I know the government and British officials are trying but I want them to put more pressure on the Qataris.”

Adam was 10 when he was allegedly seized by his relatives during a visit to Qatar. His father Jamal died in a motorbike accident in 2005 but Rebecca brought him to visit the family in 2009.

In a recent handwritten addendum, Mr Cameron told Adam: “I will keep trying as hard as I can to help you, and I hope your family situation will change for the better very soon.”

He added: “I promise I have not forgotten about you – and will keep trying to make some progress.”

The Foreign Office said one of its ministers, Alistair Burt, had met with Mrs Jones and that the issue had been raised face-to-face with the Qatari prime minister, Sheikh Hamid bin Jassim. But the Gulf state’s leadership has insisted that the matter is one for the family courts and the boy’s wishes are only a factor in the case.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “The FCO recognises the enormous distress faced by Rebecca Jones in being separated from her son and we sincerely hope she is reunited with him soon.

Ms Jones moved to Bahrain almost 30 years ago where her father worked for the Merchant Navy.

She married Jamal Al Madhaiki, in 1998.

They were divorced the following year but remained on good terms until he was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2005.

She was remarried in 2003 to Barrie Jones, an IT consultant, and the couple have a four-year-old daughter, Alex.

Mrs Jones believes her ex-husband’s family took Adam, who has dual British-Qatari nationality, because they hoped to control his inheritance.

A Qatar government spokesman was unavailable for comment. Adam's family in Qatar was also unavailable for comment.